1 . A few years ago, my husband Charlie and I had marriage problems. Growing family responsibilities and financial worries took a toll on us and we began arguing frequently, often late into the night.
However, neither of us could take the step that would end our eleven-year marriage and bring heartbreak to our three young children. Deep down we knew we still loved each other, so we determined to work it out. Through countless discussions, we began to close the gulf. The more honest we were, the closer we became. When I felt we were reaching solid ground, I asked my husband to give me an “eternity (永恒) ring”. It was not so much the ring I wanted; it was the reassurance I thought it would bring.
We went shopping on a beautiful summer day. We walked hand in hand along a row of jeweler’s shops. Finally I found a ring I liked. While waiting for it to be adjusted, the jeweler took my left hand and glanced at my engagement ring. “May I clean it for you?” he asked. “It really doesn’t sparkle like it used to.” Charlie said as I slipped the ring off my finger. A few minutes later the jeweler was back. The ring shone like new!
On the drive home, I didn’t take my eyes off it. I forgot all about the eternity ring. I just couldn’t believe how this old ring suddenly sparkled the way it had the day Charlie gave it to me. I had taken it for granted these past years, but with a little polish it could still make my heart beat fast.
And that’s the way it is with a marriage. You have to work at keeping it polished and new, or else the grime (污垢) of the passing years will hide the joy. I put my hand on the seat between us and spread my fingers. Charlie covered my hand with his. I felt I was lucky to be able to see the sparkle in something old when I thought I needed something new.
1. The author and her husband had marriage problems partly because __________.A.they frequently argued late into the night | B.they were lack of money |
C.they had countless discussions | D.the author wanted to have an eternity ring |
A.Free of trouble. | B.Arriving at a square. |
C.Wealthy and generous. | D.In good relationship. |
A.The old ring’s light attracted her attention. |
B.She was not satisfied with the eternity ring. |
C.Her husband kept it for her. |
D.The couple were talking all the way merrily. |
A.We tend to prefer new objects to old ones. |
B.One should remain thankful for what he has got. |
C.Marriage should be constantly polished. |
D.We should try to rediscover the use of old objects. |
1.阐述与父母相处的重要性;
2.谈谈你与父母的相处方式。
注意:
1.写作词数应为80个左右;
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
How I Get Along With My Parents
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Dear Patrick,
My dad is always very busy at work and rarely
Hai
Hi Hai,
I’m Patrick McCarthy, but you can call me Pat. This is the space where I can help you with your daily life problems, one-on-one. Go ahead and ask away!
Still, not every family relationship will end up
Also, it’s good to remember that our parents are still people like you and me. They have faults of their own. Be willing
Patrick
Good
First, the easiest to say but the
5 . Sometimes it’s easy to get overwhelmed (不知所措的) with parenting. We worry we aren’t doing enough for our children, so we give more. Then we worry we are doing too much, so we pull back. Then we stress out. So if you’re worried about being a better parent, worry no more.
●Have a “yes” day. So much of the relationship between a parent and a child is saying no. “Can I wear my shorts to school?” “No, it’s 30 degrees outside.” “Can I walk in the rain?” “No, we just blow-dried your hair.” As a parent, most of the time it’s easier to just say no. So for one day, say yes as much as possible.
●Go on a nature walk. The fun part of a nature walk is that you get to do something completely different with your child—something you don’t get to do every day. Before you go out adventuring, get out a bird book, print off an insect guide and go on a long walk. Try and learn together and explore together.
●Let them dress you up. For one day, let your child dress you up!
●Go through old pictures. There is nothing that makes someone feel more loved like going through old memories. Children love to hear stories about themselves. Take an hour, sit down and open up their baby book, a picture album or a Facebook album. Go through the pictures one by one and tell your child about that memory.
A.They will feel so special and loved. |
B.Whatever they choose, just go along with it. |
C.It’s great to join their world by hearing their music. |
D.Make up stories about the birds you see as you walk. |
E.Try and say yes to things you wouldn’t normally agree to. |
F.Take some time to go on a date with each of your children. |
G.Focus on these easy ways to connect with your child today. |
A.By WeChat. | B.By e-mail. | C.By phone. |
7 . Three Books for A More Honest View of Parent
Nowadays, it seems there are two ways to write about parenthood. I am heartily sick of both. This year I’ve decided to hug books that are inspiring and honest, yet do not avoid the pleasures of parenthood.
Life Among the Savages Shirley Jackson price: $15
Shirley Jackson, author of one of the most amazingly sinister novels of all time and of the short story The Lottery, also wrote two charming novels about raising her four children in an old farmhouse in rural Vermont. In Life Among the Savages, Jackson’s humor is as thrilling as her horror, and her children seem never to inspire in her anything worse than a fond exasperation (恼怒) .
A Blind Man Can See How Much I Love You Amy Bloom price: $13. 95
A Blind Man Can See How Much I Love You contains one of the most absolute expressions of a mother’s love in fiction. Much of it takes place in the waiting room of a gender-reassignment surgeon. It’s about a woman who is determined to be the mother that her child needs her to be. In this collection ordinary women rise to the occasion demanded by motherhood. They make mistakes but they generall succeed in making up for them.
Family Man Calvin Trillin price: $ 18
In his memoir (回忆录) Family Man, Calvin Trillin writes with humor about his wife and daughters. He gives what I think is the single most useful piece of parenting advice “Getting advice on the best way to bring up children is like getting advice on the best way to breathe sooner or later you’re probably going to forget it and go back to your regular old in-and-out.” Trillin gives the impression of being the best kind of husband.
1. Which book tells a story of raising children in the countryside?A.The Lottery. | B.Family Man. |
C.Life Among the Savages. | D.A Blind Man Can See How Much I Love You. |
A.A humorous mother. | B.An operation. |
C.Offering advice. | D.Being a kind husband. |
A.They share a theme. | B.They target the same audience. |
C.They were written by the same author. | D.They were published in the same year. |
8 . My parents have very different parenting styles. Dad brings out the best in me. He is calm and reasonable and treats me like an adult.
My friends and I think that our parents care too much about us. Take me for example.
Parents need to learn to trust us. There is no point in becoming angry, which just makes things worse. A few months ago, Mum went crazy when I told her I’d been receiving e-mails from a stranger I’d met online. Since then she hasn’t allowed me to use the Internet.
I understand them, but they overreact (反应过激).
We love the idea of being really close to our parents.
A.Some teenagers refuse to open up to their parents. |
B.But she isn’t so bad as many of my friends’ parents. |
C.Mum, on the other hand, kept respecting my decisions. |
D.We also know deep down that our parents care about us most. |
E.Recently, I wanted to take a train to Portsmouth to see a friend. |
F.What they do makes us not want to talk about our personal things with them. |
G.Mum, like so many parents of my friends, makes me not want to follow her advice. |
9 . A man came home from work late to find his 5-year-old son waiting for him at the door.
“Daddy, may I ask you a question?”
“Yeah sure, what is it?” replied the man.
“Daddy, how much do you make an hour?”
“If you must know, I make $20 an hour.”
Looking up, the little boy asked, “Daddy, may I please borrow $10?”
The father was angry, “If the only reason why you asked that is that you can borrow some money to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then you march yourself straight to your room and go to bed. Think about why you are being so selfish. I work hard every day for such this childish behavior?”
The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door. The man sat down and started to get even angrier about the little boy’s questions. “How dare he ask such questions only to get some money?”
After about an hour or so, the man had calmed down and started to think: “Maybe there was something he really needed to buy with that $10 because he really didn’t ask for money very often.”
The man went to the door of the little boy’s room and opened the door. “Are you asleep, son?” He asked. “No daddy, I’m awake,” replied the boy.
“I’ve been thinking, maybe I was too strict with you earlier,” said the man. “It’s been a long day and I took out my bad feelings on you. Here’s the $10 you asked for.” The little boy sat straight up, smiling, “Oh, thank you, daddy!” Then, reaching under his pillow he pulled out some crumpled(褶皱的)bills.
The man, seeing that the boy already had money, started to get angry again. The little boy slowly counted out his money, then looked up at his father. “Why do you want more money if you already have some?” the father complained. “Because I didn’t have enough, but now I do,” the little boy replied. “Daddy, I have $20 now. Can I buy an hour of your time? Please come home early tomorrow. I would like to have dinner with you.”
1. Why was the father angry at first?A.Because he misunderstood his son. | B.Because he worked too late that day. |
C.Because his son wanted to buy a silly toy. | D.Because his son asked for too much money. |
A.To offer his son more money. | B.To check if his son was asleep. |
C.To make an apology for his strictness. | D.To take out his bad feelings on his son. |
A.That his son owed him money. | B.That his son had owned money. |
C.That his son had told a lie to him. | D.That his son refused to talk to him. |
A.Inspired. | B.Panicked. | C.Regretful. | D.Doubtful. |
1. 自己与父母的相处情况;
2. 改善关系的两点建议。
注意:
1. 词数100左右;
2. 可以适当增加细节,以使行文连贯。
Dear Mark,
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Best wishes.
Yours,Li Hua